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Canelo Alvarez, a 33-year-old with an illustrious career, stands on the brink of sporting greatness. His trophy case boasts world titles in multiple weight classes, showcasing his versatility as a junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight champion. Yet, it's not just the glittering hardware but also Alvarez's exceptional skills that have earned him the status of a pound-for-pound star.
Widely considered a once-in-a-lifetime fighter, Alvarez's eye-catching victories have positioned him as a strong contender for the title of the best Mexican boxer of all time. The possession of WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF 168-pound titles solidifies his reputation as the best super middleweight globally, a fact that surprises no one.
However, Alvarez's place in history faces a potential tarnish. The distant echoes of David Benavidez's footsteps were heard a few years ago, gradually growing louder with each passing victory. Benavidez, now with an impressive record and back-to-back wins against Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade, has emerged as the clear number one contender.
Despite Benavidez's ascent, Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) has shown limited interest in a potential bout. While acknowledging Benavidez's skill (28-0, 24 KOs), Alvarez has maintained that the 26-year-old has not done enough to earn the right to share the ring with him. However, boxing analyst Teddy Atlas believes Alvarez can no longer ignore the looming challenge, stating that if Alvarez wants to be hailed as one of the greatest Mexicans and the top 168-pounder, he must face Benavidez.
Benavidez recently demonstrated his prowess by defeating former two-division champion Demetrius Andrade. Andrade's strategic boxing skills were cast aside as he was forced into a toe-to-toe battle, culminating in a sixth-round stoppage.
In anticipation of a potential showdown between Benavidez and Alvarez, Atlas envisions Benavidez employing his usual aggressive style. While success with such a strategy is possible, Atlas warns that Benavidez, the current WBC interim belt holder, must be cautious of Alvarez's formidable firepower.
As the boxing world eagerly awaits a resolution to this impending clash, the question lingers: Will Canelo Alvarez rise to the challenge posed by David Benavidez, or will his pristine stature take a significant hit if he chooses to avoid the inevitable confrontation?